Query/400 and Multiple Detail Lines

Hey, Ted:

Help! I need to add more fields to the detail line in Query/400, but the line is already full. Do I have to get another query tool?

--Jack

I'd recommend it. There are some good non-IBM query products on the market that have strong formatting abilities. But you can get through this crisis while you're evaluating them.

Go ahead and select the additional fields on the "select and sequence fields" display. Select the fields in order by line and position. That is, select all of the fields that go on the first line, from left to right. Then select all the fields that go on the second line, again from left to right. Continue until all desired fields have been selected.

Next, select the "select output type and output form" display. Fill in the following options:

Next, go to the "select report column formatting" display. This is where you'll do the bulk of the work. As you work in this area, keep in mind that you can press F13 at any time to see the format of the finished report.

First, set the column spacing for each field in the first line to an appropriate value. Second, enter column headings for the fields on the first row, and set column headings for fields on second and subsequent rows to *NONE. (The value *NONE must be in uppercase.) Third, specify any editing you wish to apply to numeric fields. Fourth, enter any column widths you wish to change for first-line fields. Press F13 frequently to check on your progress. Your goal at this point is to get the first line the way you want it.

Once the first line is formatted appropriately, increase or decrease the column spacing value for the fields of the second line until they are aligned properly. Once the second line is aligned properly, format the third line. Continue until all lines are the way you want them to look. Here's an example of what you might see when you press F13.

In the example, there are three lines for each input record. The resulting report looks like this.

                           Customer Listing

Cmp   Acct     Name/Address                     Limit   Type    Rep
  1     44     Joe's Shoes                       $.01      A    105
               11 Main St
               Duluthe           GA  30096
  1  30003     Snowman Heat & Air            2,500.00      A    101
               999 S. Main St
               Lexington         OH  44904
  2      1     Xolomon Solutions            $7,500.00      A    104
               Box 999
               Tulsa             OK  74146
  2      3     Donaldson Electric           $3,500.00      A    112
               901 S. Rose Dr
               Whittier          CA  90601
  3     56     Jak's Liver Emporium             $1.23           101
               11 Filet Mignon Dr
               Mexico            OH  40404            

Although I've never done it, I have heard of using this technique to generate mailing labels.

--Ted